diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
index abf98ef..0b6dc5b 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/release.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,22 @@ jobs:
           distribution: temurin
           java-version: '21'
 
+      - name: Configure Morphe registry
+        env:
+          MORPHE_REGISTRY_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.MORPHE_REGISTRY_USERNAME }}
+          MORPHE_REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.MORPHE_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          if [ -z "$MORPHE_REGISTRY_USERNAME" ] || [ -z "$MORPHE_REGISTRY_TOKEN" ]; then
+            echo "::error::MORPHE_REGISTRY_USERNAME and MORPHE_REGISTRY_TOKEN secrets are required"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          umask 077
+          mkdir -p "$HOME/.gradle"
+          {
+            printf 'gpr.user=%s\n' "$MORPHE_REGISTRY_USERNAME"
+            printf 'gpr.key=%s\n' "$MORPHE_REGISTRY_TOKEN"
+          } >> "$HOME/.gradle/gradle.properties"
+
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
@@ -38,15 +54,10 @@ jobs:
           GITEA_URL: ${{ gitea.server_url }}
           GITEA_REPOSITORY: ${{ gitea.repository }}
           GITEA_REF_NAME: ${{ gitea.ref_name }}
-          MORPHE_REGISTRY_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.MORPHE_REGISTRY_USERNAME }}
-          MORPHE_REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.MORPHE_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
         run: npx semantic-release
 
       # Semantic Release performs the Gradle build while publishing. Build only
       # when no release was produced so every push still verifies compilation.
       - name: Verify project compiles
         if: steps.release.outputs.new_release_published != 'true'
-        env:
-          MORPHE_REGISTRY_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.MORPHE_REGISTRY_USERNAME }}
-          MORPHE_REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.MORPHE_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
         run: ./gradlew :patches:buildAndroid clean --no-daemon